The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-03-10
THE RED LIGHT

q
writers, ~herein the moon 10 always Ia ths
moon Ia always In the foil. the sno~ al
wsys sparklos like pulserised diamonds,
and the air always still and cold and clear.
bat stormy twilight, with the sucw driv.
ing steadily from the east, the Wind raw
and biting. and the sky what you ses OF
I twas black " ink.
But il vas Ne~ Years eve all the same,
and Bertha Hooper's cheeks we're a. red
as bitter sueet berries in the the woods As
she sal. all wrapped up. in tbs train that
was steaming northwsrd. 90 her way to
spend New Years with her Amt Aimira
Higgins.
New Years 10 the country To Bertha,
who hsd lived ell her life Ia the brick
walls aud stone pavements OF city, the
very words seemed to convey somewhat OF
cheer and joyiulness. And Bertha. A. she
sat with hcr eyes closed aud her little
hands safely nestled 10 gray squirre'
muii, beheld ia her minds eye great fires
OF logs roaring up wide.throated cbimneys
aud had half composed poem on New
Year and its associations when the ruth
less conductor came along for her ticket
How far are we from Monteourt staiionf
she Inquired. as she gave up the bit of
pastebosrd.
Next but one, Miss. said the man as he
hurried on. with his lantern under his
arm. Half an hour yet
She had never been so far from New
York IN ell her life before The driving
rain In which she had left home
had changed as they progressed
northward isto the steady fall OF snow
which auttsred around them like . white
shroud. But Bertha Hooper cared little
for this. Had not Aunt Almira promised
to send Zebedee, her youngest son, to the
station with the pony TO meet her on the
arrival OF the evening train from New
York? And was not Zsbedee to have
lantern with red glass door to it, SO thai
she could identify him at oncea
She was very pretty as she sat there inI
her little black velvet toque with its cur
ling plumes Of cardinal red aud the wiue-
colored ribbon bow about her throat
pretty with the freshness and bloom oi
eighteen. She was dark, with large hazel
eyes, almond-shsped and long lashed, 81
clear, rosy bloom on either cheek, and
wavy, dark hair hanging in silken fringe
over her broad, low forehead.
Mont court sta toni bawled the
brakeman. putting in snow powdered
fur cap and Withdrawing it again as quick
ly as il he had been magnificent edition
OF the Jack in- n-a-box, wherein children
much rejoice at holiday time. Aud Ber-
tina Hooper knew that she had reached her
destination.
Stiff and cramped at the length OF time
in which she had been sitting in one posi-
tion. she rose. with little steel-clasped
travelling bag in one hand aud dainty
silk umbrella in the other, and made her
way to the door.
All she could see when she stepped out
upon the wet and slippery platform was
blur Of driving snow, through which the
lights OF the solitary little country depot
cleaned ftfully; but the next instant
something flashed athwart her vision like
friendly red eye--and beneath the re-
flector over the station door saw tall,
fiue-looking young man in fur-trimmed
ovcrcoat, q seal-skin cap set iauntily on
one side OF crop OF curls, and red-lighted
lantern swinging from his left hand, and
be stood strsining his eyes into the stormy
darkness as il to catch sight OF some tam
iliar face in the little crowd.
Cousin Zebedeel cried Bertha aloud,
and she made one spring into the arms OF
this blonde whiskered young giant. For
had not she and Zebedee played domin oes
and fox and geese together in the days
when she wore blue ribbon sashes and his
hair was q closely shorn mat Of carroty
red2 Obi Cousin Zebedee. I'm 80 glad to
see you; and l hadn't any idea you bad
grown half so handsome!
And she gave him great hug, at the
same time holding up her rosebud lips for
kiss.
| But 10 ber infinite amazement the hero
OF the seal skin cap seemed a little back
ward 10 returning her cousinly advances.
IL beg your. pardon. said he, slightly
receeding. but I'm afraid there Is some
mistake. My name is not Zebedee, and
the lady for whom am looking is some
years older than you.
Bertha Hooper started back. coloring
and confused; and ss she did 80, lat
comfortable looking old lady came trnn-
ding along the platform in an India shawl
and boa Russia sable worth its weight
10 greenbacks.
Charley she cried. ! thought never
should find You. Is the carriage here?
All here and waiting, Aunt Eiiie. re-
sponded the young man, but be still hesi'
tsted . second, as Bertha Hooper stood
with averted face and moiionless figure In
the shadow OF the building.
Can l be Of any service To your be ask
ed, II you are expecting friends who
failed 10 meet yon-
Anybody by the name OF Bertha Hoo
90 PERI shouted stentorisn voice, and =
tall, raw looking lad with a lantern-slso
lighted With rcd glass rushed shutting
sronnd the corner.
Zebedee himself, Zebedee, red-hsired
aud sbsmblipg aud awkward As be had
been in the old FOX and geese days
OH said be. catching up his lantern. 80
that The scarlet birds wings flashed out